Lapidopsychotherapy
After the acute abstinence syndrome relieve and overall physical and emotional improvement, along with the rest of procedures, patient is introduced to one of the following levels of treatment process — Lapidopsychotherapy.
The essence of Lapidopsychotherapy (LPT) is based on transformation of personal, spiritual and narcotic problems onto the stone. The method was developed by Professor J.B. Nazaraliev and his colleagues at the Nazaraliev Medical Center as a transcultural approach to treating chemical addictions.
Scientific Foundation
The generally accepted bio-psycho-social paradigm of narcotic dependence pathogenesis has been complemented by a spiritual component. Effective therapy of dependence must address every element of pathogenesis: biological, psychological, social and spiritual.
The approach can be examined from two associated positions: cultural and psychotherapeutical. Many nations of the world have traditions of using stones in sacral aims — sainted stones, amulets and protective talismans. From this perspective, Lapidopsychotherapy can be considered a therapeutic transcultural ritual, affecting the spirituality of the patient through transpersonal and positive psychotherapy.
The psychotherapeutical component eclectically absorbs elements of group dynamics, psychodynamic approach (stone as object of transfer and method to overcome resistance), suggestive methods and NLP (stone as anchor of trance readiness). The practice of awareness and verbalisation of emotions carries significant psychohygienic potential.
The Legend of Mountain of Salvation
The tradition of pilgrimage to the mountain of Tashtar-Ata (translated from Kyrgyz as "Father of Stones") was included in the medico-psychotherapeutical complex of treatment. According to legend, a long time ago evil forces began to prevail. Then the gods sent a hero — Batyr Tashtar-Ata — to battle the wicked demons by throwing large round stones. After his victory, he fell into a deep sleep and transformed into the mountain. His heart became a great sacred stone where people have come for centuries with their hopes and sorrows.
Stages of Lapidopsychotherapy
- Excursion to the Mountain of Salvation. Patients who have passed the intensive medical treatment period visit the mountain of Tashtar-Ata with the burial mound of Salvation.
- Choice of stone. Patients choose a stone for subsequent psychotherapeutical work. The stone, as a material symbol of problems and tension, is defined as the "stone of the soul."
- "Talk with stone." This stage consists of 3 sessions:
- Work with the internal world (sense of guilt)
- Work with the past
- Forming image of the future and ways of its achievement
- Ritual of Liberation. Throwing the stone onto the burial mound of Salvation, symbolic incineration of old personal belongings, and symbolic stringing of ribbon on branches with a pledge of sobriety.
Lapidopsychotherapy is part of the multicomponent treatment complex at the Nazaraliev Medical Center, which also includes medical treatment, psychological correction, psychotherapy for dependent and co-dependent persons, and personal psycho-energetic transformation training.
Based on research by A.M. Demilkhanova, A.F. Zhelonkina, V.Y. Karagapolov, E.A. Kubatov. Published at the Fourth Pan-Asiatic Congress "Psychotherapy and Consultations in the Era of Changes," Ekaterinburg, 2007.
